BOEM assesses offshore wind interest within New York Bight

A picture from Cathie Associates visit to the US’ first commercial offshore wind farm; Block Island.

April 9 (Renewables Now) - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will publish on Wednesday a Call for Information and Nominations directed towards companies interested in commercial wind energy leases within the New York Bight region.

BOEM is also looking to receive public input on the potential for wind energy development in the Call Area, including site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity. The region in question represents an area of shallow waters between Long Island and the New Jersey coast, BOEM explains.

A total of four Call Areas will be considered, namely Fairways North, Fairways South, Hudson North, and Hudson South. They include 222 whole Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) blocks and 172 partial blocks and comprise about 2,047 square nautical miles (702,192 hectares).

The Call will include a 45-day public comment period, BOEM said, adding that it will accept nominations and comments until May 29, 2018.

To date, BOEM has awarded 13 commercial wind energy leases off the Atlantic coast and anticipates to hold an auction for areas offshore Massachusetts later in 2018.